Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot 2008

Lush Lashes Lands Coronation Stakes
20/06/08

1st (4) Lush Lashes 5-1
2nd (2) Infallible 11-2
3rd (1) Carribean Sunset 16-1
11 ran
Also: 9-4 Fav Spacious 4th

Lush Lashes continued a memorable day for trainer Jim Bolger when gaining her first Group 1 victory when taking the Coronation Stakes by three and a quarter lengths under Kevin Manning.

The Galileo filly had finished fifth in the Juddmonte Oaks last time out but was not inconvenienced by the step back in trip to a mile.

"I’d be very impressed with her,” said Bolger. “I was hoping that she would give a good account of herself but I didn’t think she could win in that style. My only concern was the lack of pace in the race today but Kevin had that covered. We knew after Epsom that she was going the right way and obviously I was very tempted to go for the Ribblesdale, but we thought that having won a Group race already we’d try to upgrade her and win a Group One and she’s done it in style. If the Ribblesdale was a Group One she would have probably gone for that. It all hinged on the status of the race.

"She had the Goffs Million won with a furlong to go and that’s only seven furlongs. She’s always shown plenty of pace and I was a little concerned about her getting a mile and a half at Epsom. As it happened, it was more the track than not getting the trip, so next time it probably will be a mile and a half.

"The Irish Oaks at the Curragh will be her target. We’ll always return to Ireland! She hadn’t done any fast work at home since before the Guineas and she seems to be getting hardier at this stage.”

Lush Lashes is quoted as 6/4 favourite for the Irish Oaks with Cashmans and completed a 9.36/1 double for Bolger following the victory of Cuis Ghaire in the opening Albany Stakes.

“I’m only had singles here before, they are scarce enough and won this (in 1983) with Flame Of Tara,” he added.

Manning added: "She got into a lovely even position and it was a nice even pace. She travelled very, very well and I was in a lovely position all of the way.

"She stays well and I just f`eel it was the track at Epsom that she didn’t handle. She was shifting on the ground as the camber rolled away. She looked a smart filly in the Musidora and she was not beaten far in the Guineas when she would have been inexperienced.

"It makes your job very easy when then have the speed that she has and they can stay. Any Group One winner, I enjoy and she’s come back and proved us right today.”

GOSDEN PLEASED WITH INFALLIBLE EFFORT

Trainer John Gosden praised runner-up Infallible after the Cheveley Park Stud filly chased home Lush Lashes in the Group One Coronation Stakes.

The 1,000 Guineas fourth, ridden by Jimmy Fortune, threw down her challenge approaching the distance but was outstayed in the closing stages by the winner, who drew three and a quarter lengths clear at the line.

Gosden said: “She did nothing wrong and ran a blinder. I had a word with Mr Bolger and told him to give his filly a rest and then he turns up here and beats us.

“The other filly just had more stamina in the last half-furlong. We came to beat her and she outstayed us. We’ll look at races over a stiff seven furlongs or an easy mile.

“Take nothing away from Jim’s filly, but she likes this fast ground and ours just wants a bit of cut. She likes juice in the ground so we’re delighted she ran a good race.”

Dermot Weld, trainer of third-placed Carribean Sunset said: "I am delighted. She is lovely, tough, genuine filly and has been a model of consistency.

"She was unlucky in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Pat (Smullen, Jockey), thought she was maybe a shade unlucky not to be second today.

"There is a possibility she could now go for the American Oaks, for which she has an invitation (run at Hollywood Park). It is a $1 million race and I have won it before (with Dimitrova in 2003). We could also look at the Falmouth Stakes.

"As the year progresses, I think she could be suited by 10 furlongs.

"Today’s race was a vintage Coronation Stakes I think."

Spacious, sent off the 9/4 favourite after finishing runner-up to Natagora in the 1,000 Guineas on her latest start, was unable to trouble the winner and kept on to take fourth under Jamie Spencer.

Trainer James Fanshawe commented: “If you look at the form, she ran a good race but Jamie (Spencer) just felt that she didn’t have her usual spark. We’ll see how she is before making any plans.”